Page 92 of Dark Verse

“They don’t know that. They’re grasping. For all they know she could be back. She could…”

Gillian could be anywhere. She could be in one of the cars parked on the street for all I know, waiting for the coast to be clear to make her move. To finish the job she started. My shoulder burns white hot, and I’m shaking again.

I cannot sleep in this house. But nowhere really feels safe. I could call Dove. She and RJ live in a high-rise building downtown. Between the doorman and the private elevator, it would be difficult for an intruder to find their way in. But if Gillian did manage to get past all of that, I’d be putting my sister’s life at risk.

I could call Mom and Dad. Ronald is several hours away from Denver. Yet that still doesn’t feel far enough away. I’m just as likely to take my troubles to them. How am I supposed to protect myself, let alone them, against an invisible foe?

“I can’t sleep here,” I repeat.

“You don’t feel safe here,” he concludes.

“Not until they catch her.”

Knox leans over and kisses my forehead.

“Let me make a call, sweetheart. We’re not sleeping here tonight, but I want you to rest, okay? I know you haven’t slept much in these last few days.”

I nod, leaning back into the pillows and letting the weight of the blanket soothe some of my nerves.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

KNOX

AS I step out of the room, I lean against the closed door, feeling completely deflated and exhausted yet somehow restless. Every nerve in my body feels like angry electric shocks are forcing their way through my skin and muscles. The pulses start in my bandaged hand and run up my arm. From the corner of my eye, I see Cash coming from the kitchen into the hallway. He opens his mouth to say something, but I bring my finger to my lips in a shush motion, pointing to the closed door behind me. I know Venny isn’t sleeping, but I don’t want her distracted from resting by conversation. I lead Cash down the hallway back into the front room.

“So, what did they have to say?” He asks me as we enter the living room.

I don’t immediately answer, taking a seat on the long couch. As I gather my thoughts, Zeke comes in as well.

“Where’s Via?” I ask them.

“Picking up those prints I ordered last week,” Zeke answers. “She didn’t know you’d be back so early.”

I nod, his excuse on her behalf unnecessary. Neither of them speaks, clearly waiting for me.

“Her name is Gillian Wilson, the woman who did this. She’s a fan,” I say, although using that shortened word to describe her feels wrong in the moment. Gillian is the truest definition of a fan. A fanatic. “The police were able to trace her through the car she used and the…DNA she left. They are trying to track her down.”

Small comfort.

“But she’s still running around out there,” I finish, tugging at my beard hairs.

“Fuck, cuz,” Zeke says, looking shocked.

He sits down heavily next to me, his arm draped over my shoulder in a comforting way.

“I’m not even sure what I was hoping for before they told us. Maybe a random intruder? Did I think that would be better somehow? But she’s been stalking me for weeks.” I say. “Fuck! I brought that shit into this house.”

I say weeks, but it’s obvious to me Gill’s been watching me for even longer. As soon as Raven mentioned our first date, my memories reset to include Gill. My focus had been so intently on Ven that night that Gill’s face had just become part of the background mosaic. Just another music lover I’ve run into in real life.

I brought that fucking psycho into Raven’s life.

“No, Knox,” Cash says, sitting down on the other side of me. “This sounds like someone who let a fixation become unhealthy. That’s not on you.”

I don’t believe him but nod.

“I need to call Ma,” I say after a long silence.

“Bille Jo doesn’t know yet?” Cash asks.